The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-13

The same thing is true of the scien-
fist. Whether he would know of the
circulation of the blood, or the laws of
the planetary system, the laws of biol
ogy or Of evolution. These must be
convictions. Since science in any form
is classified knowledge, there must be
facts upon which to base the classified
ton. Whatever the hypothesis upon
which theory of any scientific subject
be based, it must be such as will con-
vince him who is to work from it. The
supposition must appear reasonable as
it is placed in connection with what is
known to be true. And it must be an
assumption which will work we'll as the
person who uses it undertakes to draw
conclusions.
So, in order to meet the obstacles in
any Of these lines of endeavor, there
must be a settled and determined mind.
We have seen by the illustrations al
ready used that failure to believe in
earnest in what we undertake brings
disaster. We know how often plans of
great mercantile enterprises come to
naught because those who consider
them have not faith-do not believe
they can succeed. How many persons
in our churches forecast failure in the
undertaking of certain works, all be-
cause they have not faith in plans.
How often opposition comes up to the
ideas that the cause of Christ, and that
of our part of that kingdom can prosper,
because people lack conviction concern
ing their own ability.
And what holds true so far, we can
find just as we'll in the development of
religious life in the individual. In
this matter we must be convinced of
religious truth, as well as in other mat
tiers, to be convinced of the truth cor
responding thereto.
knowledge of forces which hold the
sun and earth in their places in them
selves, will amount to very little to-
ward building up the religious life. To
be able to analyze flower, or to per-
form any other similar feat in science,
will not be likely to build up in us the
Christian virtues, and make our life
more and more godlike. Thatlife in us,
the tide of devotion, reverence, piety,
runs low. We get discouraged in the
race for perfection in temper of soul, in
patience of spirit and meekness and
purity of heart.
But this must be remembered. We
must seek for help among those things
which correspond to that which is dis
couraged. 1t is becoming recognized
truth that everything has its correspond
ence. In a cog-wheel in a watch there
are corresponding cogs in another wheel.
1t would be useless to put in one cog
wheel and expect it to be moved by
wheel the circumference of which was
smooth and regular. If man had
trouble with the piston-rod and cylin-
der of his engine, he would not look for
that which would remedy the difficulty
among the crops of the farmer, or the
products of the cotton mill. He would
look to the machinist and the machine
shop, and there he would find that
which correspondent to his own difficulty.
So in this question of the religious
life. If we are discouraged, we must
find the power of victory in that which
is corresponding. Is this agreement to
be found in skepticism ? When we
doubt the great truths Of religion, can
we expect faith to increase ? He who
says the Bible has no connection what
ever to the revealings of God to men,
will that man be likely to learn OF the
great facts therein declared, and be-
lief in which will bring God nearer to
him? No, under such condition OF
life, an increase Of belief is impossible.
That man who doubts the power OF
Jesus Christ to save his soul from pres
emit sin, will not in doubling be saved
through Christ. He who doubts the ex-
istence of the influence of God-called
the Holy Spirit, and he who doubts its
uplifting and inspiring work, will never
be made better by it.
Doubt in the facts of the religious
realm never tends to build up in US a
faith in the efficacy Of religion. Skep-
ticism in any of the fundamentals OF
the Christian religion will only decrease
the hold of that religion upon us; and
hence our dearth of goodness, and our
in this direction con-
tinues.
We need to be convinced in the
Christian life as elsewhere. And this
conviction must be concerning relig-
ious truth. Science and doubt, or
skepticism cannot help us here. Our
religious nature is what is affected by
the discouragements, and it must find
restoration through the influences which
comes of conviction in religious truth.
And this kind of conviction needs to be
more positive than that concerning the
other things to which 1 referred. We
are in a world where material affairs
engross our attention, while the relig-
ious nature is apt to be neglected. Dis
honesty and vice become common things
in the world about US, and it needs a